Corsham academy case to be outlined (From Wiltshire Times)

Corsham academy case to be outlined

9:00am Friday 26th October 2012 in Latest News

Corsham Regis Primary School has launched a consultation to inform parents of the benefits it hopes converting to an academy in the New Year will bring pupils.

The school, in King’s Avenue, will set up an academy trust on January 1, with the aim of giving teachers more freedom with the curriculum. Corsham Regis will also be able to spend more of the funding it receives.

The move will strengthen links with the Corsham School, which became an academy in April 2011.

Headteacher Louisa Sellars said: “One of the great things behind this is that we’ll be able to work more closely with the Corsham School and develop our partnership.

“Since they have become an academy, it’s given us an opportunity to explore different ways of working, allowing us to access different resources, and this is the next logical step for us.”

On the surface, pupils at the school will not notice a great difference because they will have the same staff, the same timetable, the same uniform and the same lessons.

But the change will give the school more funds to shop around and pick the best suppliers for services.

Miss Sellars said: “The feedback we have received, so far, has been good, as everyone seems very positive towards the move. They all seem chuffed by it.

“We had a promising set of Ofsted results last year and we’ve had a cracking set of SATs results this year, so this is just another sign that the school has a bright future.”

In the last academic year, 100 per cent of Corsham Regis leavers moved to the Corsham School, but, despite strengthening links through the academy status, it does not provide an automatic guarantee of a place at the secondary school for pupils.

However, academy status will mean Corsham Regis will be able to communicate directly with parents about admissions, rather than referring them to the local education authority.

The school’s consultation showing its reasons behind the move will go on until November 26.

There will also be a meeting, explaining the reasons behind the move, at the school on November 19 at 6pm.

For more information visit www.corshamregis.wilts.

sch.uk or call 01249 712294.